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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
Frequency of Water Change

 





 


Marcus
Koi Lover

Aug 18, 2007, 10:20 PM

Post #1 of 10 (3192 views)
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Frequency of Water Change Can't Post
Calling all koi experts Wink,

I have a question to ask about frequency of water change in koi pond. My pond is rather lightly stocked...10 koi (4 small 3 large and 3 mid size). Water condition has also been kept crystal clear. I do frequent test for ammonia & nitrite. How frequent is the water change required? If I introduce clay minerals to the water, and keep the filter clean, can I do without weekly water change?

Please share your experience...

Cheers


sactownkoi
Koi Lover

Aug 19, 2007, 4:23 AM

Post #2 of 10 (3185 views)
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Re: [Marcus] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
How big is your pond and the detail about the filtration system? But I would
still do a weekly water change. I do about a 5% percent change everyday
during the high feeding months and about once or twice a week of 10%
in winter.


Marcus
Koi Lover

Aug 20, 2007, 7:59 PM

Post #3 of 10 (3145 views)
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Re: [sactownkoi] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi there,

My pond is about 15 ton in total. Filter capacity is about 25% of the 15ton. I have filter mats, shells and corals in the filter. In addition, I run a small trickle tower with bio balls and biohome before returning the water to the pond.

So far I do not have any problem with Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. However, I have a recently purchased Shiro which has some persistent red veins still on the body after a week. All koi are feeding properly, so not suspecting parasites. The dealer told me he changed water in the Q tank twice a day before I brought the fish back (and fish skin was white). And the red came back after I left it in my own Q tank for a week. Now more than a week in my pond, the veins are stilll there. So I was wondering if more frequent water change (~10% weekly) will help.

PLease advise. Thanks for your response


jtlee
Koi Lover


Sep 26, 2007, 8:21 PM

Post #4 of 10 (2905 views)
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Re: [Marcus] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Marcus,

I would change 10% water every week. But during continuous heavy downpour, I would skip water change because the rain takes care of it.


In addition to water change, I also allow tap water to drip continuously into the pond. Of course you can do this only if the chlorine content of your tap is low or non at all... also if the water supply is cheap like in the Philippines.

Another advantage of continuous dripping water is, it serves as a surface skimmer. May pond use to have ugly bubbles floating around. But after I do the 24hours drip, all scums will flow to the overflow pipe and down the drain.

Now I have nice and neat pond.

jtlee
Happy Koi: Happy You!
jtlee


brianhegney
Koi Lover


Oct 3, 2007, 7:18 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2834 views)
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Re: [jtlee] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Just curious as to why you would do a water change if the pond is healthy? Ammonia 0, Nitrite, 0 KH 4, PH 7.0, Salt .20%


jtlee
Koi Lover


Oct 4, 2007, 8:41 AM

Post #6 of 10 (2828 views)
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Re: [brianhegney] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Bian,

Pond water, no matter how healthy today, will become unhealthy if it is not replenished with fresh water regularly.

Kois do not only pooh but also urinate (koi guros, pls. correct me if I am wrong). A good mechanical filter traps the solid wastes. An efficient bio filter converts the harmful nitrites into less harmful nitrates. Nitrates are less harmful but also harmful.

Be that as it may, ammonia (one of the most toxic elements) remains in the pond. The principle behind water change is to dilute the water and reduce whatever harmless elements that remains after the filtration.

If your water quality (specially Ammonia 0 & Nitite 0) remains as you claimed to be even without any water changes, I won't argue.

I used to believe that a pond neither need filtration nor water changes until I visited a mud koi pond years ago. I asked the pond owner if he has filtration and if he does regular water changes. He said "no". Then I said how come your kois are big, beautiful and healthy. Then he showed me his secret.

Half of his pond was occupied with wild water cabbage. That takes care of the ammonia. In the far end of the pond, a strong stream of fresh water spurts up continuously from a natural spring. At the opposite of the pond a low dam allows the excesss water overflow into a nearby river.

With God neutralizing the toxin and supplying fresh water, who needs filtration and water changes <:)(((<

Hope your pond water remains clean and healthy!

jtlee
Happy Koi: Happy You!
jtlee


larz1
Koi Kichi


Oct 4, 2007, 7:37 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2808 views)
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Re: [jtlee] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
I'll have to agree in part and disagree in part.
First the disagreement.
Whoever told you Ammonia remains in the water of a filtered pond was wrong.
Bioconversion in the filters removes Ammonia by converting it to Nitrite which is then converted to Nitrate. In this case there is also a Trickle Tower which will degass the majority of the Nitrate if properly installed. A properly designed and operated system will provide water that is free of measurable ammonia and nitrite and have <20ppm nitrate even without water changes.
Your mudpond comparison has no bearing on a closed system. Mudponds typically are spring fed and the mud itself is the host to a multitude of nitrobacters and heterotrophic species which act as natural filters.
Now the agreement.
A trickle overflow is my preferred method for water exchange as well. It does help to move protein scum to the skimmer overflow before it has the chance to accumulate and it does freshen the water. Water exchange for most people is needed to refresh the mineral content of the system since bacterial colonies consume carbonates and can cause a ph crash if the kh drops too low in the pond. Gh levels can also become concentrated if no water exchange takes place as evaporation will concentrate gh minerals over time even if the pond is topped off. Excessive gh levels can cause shimi's on some varieties and cause pale colored varieties to go dark and have a hardened appearance.

For most ponders my advice is to design a filter system that will maintain healthy water without any water exchange. That way your water can be safely maintained in a healthy condition even in your absence. Most water exchanges then only take place to replace the water lost when settlement is dumped and filters are backwashed to remove solid wastes and to replace evaporative loss.
All of this depends on your source water and stocking/feeding levels of course. If your source water is kh/gh poor it will have to be supplemented with another mineral source, which in this particular case is done with the oyster shell in the filtration.


jtlee
Koi Lover


Oct 8, 2007, 7:24 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2764 views)
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Re: [larz1] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
When I started koi keeping 7 years ago, I browsed through the internet and read somewhere that bio-filter converts nitrites into nitrates but the ammonia remains. So the only way to rid of ammonia is to use plants and do water changes. Since I don't think I can put enough plants to absorb all the ammonia in the pond, it has been my worries for these past many years. Today, my filter system is consist of a vortex > brushes > Jap Bio mat > Bio balls... and still worries about how to get rid of the ammonia.

Today, I design filter systems for koi ponds by various owners. So far, their kois are healthy and owners are happy... but all the while, I still kept my fingers crossed wondering where would all the ammonia go?

Thanks for your input. After reading your post, I searched the internet again and I discovered that I got the wrong advice and have been witch-hunting for the ammonia which was never there because of good bio-filtration. Now, I can look at my clients straight in the eyes and say, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT AMMONIA in YOUR POND".

Be that as it may, I still do continues fresh water trickles and regular water changes... and also advised all my clients to do so.

Better to be sure than sorry <:)(((<
Happy Koi: Happy You!
jtlee


dechoong
Member


Oct 21, 2007, 3:01 AM

Post #9 of 10 (2611 views)
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Re: [larz1] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Larry,

Good to see a koi veteran like you setting the record straight here Smile. I see you are still quite active at koi bito forum.

Cheers,
Dennis


larz1
Koi Kichi


Oct 24, 2007, 5:31 AM

Post #10 of 10 (2510 views)
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Re: [dechoong] Frequency of Water Change [In reply to] Can't Post
Hey Dennis, how ya been?
I figure I've learned so much from this forum and others that it would just be wrong to let bad information slide by to misinform others, even if it was with the best of intentions. I know getting the right information when we first started out sure saved us a lot of pain along the way.
You should drop by KB more often. It's alway nice to see your posts no matter whereCool

 
 
 



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